Greetings!

 

Thank you for being a member of United Way's Young Leaders Society. As we are celebrating United Way's 100th year in the community this year, it's leaders like you who will help us continue the progress for the next 100.

  

Let's create community change together for decades to come!

  

We have a few updates for you in this quarterly email newsletter!

  

Play & Learn funding

 

For the past three years a portion of Young Leadership Society Members' gifts helped launch Play & Learn. Since inception, this program offered opportunities for hundreds of children to develop cognitive skills while providing caregivers education on how to make play time a truly educational experience. 
 
The Young Leaders Society is proud of the partnership and the impact Play & Learn has had in the community. However, after three years of funding, the Young Leaders Committee has made the decision to switch focus to an early literacy initiative - RED  Ahead (Read Every Day to get Ahead) - effective June 30, 2014. This decision comes as an effort to reach our targeted population of low-income families, be able to track progress, and help even more children develop the early skills they need to succeed in school.
 
Nominate somebody you know for United Way Volunteer Awards

 

The annual United Way Volunteer Awards are just around the corner. Please consider nominating somebody you know who volunteers in our community!  

 

Nominations are again accepted in five categories:

  • Outstanding Youth Volunteer
  • Outstanding Adult Volunteer
  • Outstanding Senior Volunteer
  • Outstanding Group Volunteer
  • Outstanding Business Volunteer

Click here to make your nomination.  

 

Young Leaders Spotlight Continues
We love to share more about our society's members from time to time. A short Q&A with Charisma Wickham is now published here. Find out why Charisma, who works at Alliant Energy, joined our society. (If you have suggestions about a Young Leader to be highlighted, just reply to this email and let us know.)

 

Sincerely,

 

Shilo Knapp
Chair
Rockwell Collins

 

Kari Cooling
Vice Chair
Holmes Murphy
Join United Way's Centennial Volunteer Club
More than 80 people have already pledged to volunteer 100+ hours in our community this year. Wouldn't it be great if our society is well represented?
Upcoming Events
A number of events are planned to celebrate our centennial year this year. 

No child should go hungry
Join us on Feb. 18 for a free event where Kevin Concannon, of the USDA, will join us to discuss how we can work together to feed our community's hungry children next summer. Register here.

Join us for "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Join us on March 21 at the opening night of  "To Kill a Mockingbird" at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Get your tickets here. 

 

Proceeds benefit United Way initiatives. A pre-reception will be held at U.S. Bank.